In a lawsuit filed against Boeing, a 63-year-old blind mechanic, John Ott, alleges that the company failed to provide accommodations for his visual impairment during training and ultimately refused to hire him. Ott’s legal action may compel Boeing to accept a court ruling on the matter.
According to a report by Newsweek on Tuesday, Ott’s lawsuit in the Seattle federal court implicates Boeing for wrongful termination, disability discrimination, and retaliation.
Ott stated in court documents that he attended a job fair in September 2023, where initially Boeing’s Everett factory in Washington offered him a position as a mechanic, which was later changed to a composite materials fabricator. He disclosed his blindness after completing the hiring paperwork.
Prior to this, Ott had worked as a mechanic at the Lighthouse for the Blind in Seattle since 2014, manufacturing Boeing components.
Ott’s vision has gradually deteriorated due to a rare genetic condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, leaving him with limited eyesight, requiring the use of a white cane for mobility.
During his training in January 2024, Ott claims that despite keeping up with the coursework and completing tasks on time, Boeing personnel cited “safety concerns” and asked him to leave the factory, placing him on unpaid leave just four days after starting. He was officially terminated on July 18, 2024.
Boeing later argued that Ott’s position may have involved operating vehicles like forklifts, posing safety issues, and closed his application about six months later.
Christopher Stockwell, Ott’s lawyer, mentioned that reinstating Ott at Boeing could be a potential remedy if the lawsuit is successful.
In court documents submitted on August 7, Boeing stated that they had been seeking to provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring and subsequent arrangements but Ott was unable to perform the essential job duties of the position.
Boeing also mentioned that they had identified nine positions for Ott through a 60-day reassignment process, but Ott only showed interest in a safety specialist role that required driving vehicles.
Currently, Ott has returned to work at the Lighthouse for the Blind and has obtained the title of apprentice mechanic after completing over 8000 hours of training. While he expresses a desire to work at Boeing, he emphasizes the need for a change in the company’s corporate culture regarding blind individuals.